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https://www.npr.org/2025/08/07/nx-s1-5489813/dungeons-dragons-dimension-20-critical-role-madison-square-garden-stadium>
'For years after it was invented in the 1970s,
Dungeons & Dragons remained a
niche game that people — stereotypically, nerdy boys — played at home with
their friends.
But in the past decade or so,
D&D has emerged as a popular form of spectator
entertainment, with comedians, actors and podcasters playing the game for other
people to watch. "Actual play," as it's known, has attracted millions of
viewers online and has even spilled out into the real world, with
D&D shows
playing in movie theaters, touring globally and selling out stadiums.
One of the most iconic examples of this phenomenon came earlier this year when
the show
Dimension 20 sold out Madison Square Garden in New York. Roughly
20,000 fans showed up to watch seven comedians perform
D&D, with a few rock
show flourishes — like gouts of butane fire around the stage to simulate the
wrath of the dragon Kalvaxis, the big villain of the night.
"Kalvaxis breathes in," actor and comedian Brennan Lee Mulligan narrated:
"'Trifle with me at your own peril. BWAAAAAH!'"
But the performers are still just playing an analog tabletop game: rolling
dice, checking rulebooks and using their imaginations. And the makers of
D&D
themselves say that actual play and its diverse audiences are helping to fuel a
broader golden age of
D&D right now, including the kind played by friends at
home.'
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
